I got my bicycle back about 8 days ago, and I rode a ton last week to make up for lost time. More than 75 miles in the first three days, then a day off followed by another 75-ish miles in the next three days. Finally! \o/

At home, we lost our air-conditioning during a heat wave last week. It always takes a couple of days to notice that the house isn't cooling down, and that the vents seem to be blowing not-really-cold air. By that time, you can't get a spot on the repair-guy's schedule. Fixed today, and apparently caused by a surge after two power blackouts last week. Thanks, SMUD. :(

We're still watching Breaking Bad (now in early S3), still rewatching Fringe (Oh, S2 plot-arc for Charlie—I still wish that hadn't happened), and HalfshellHusband and I are watching Poldark. Poldark is a period soap-opera, really, more obvious now than when I watched the original in my mid-teens. Still, the star is SO handsome. Wow. Uncle Poldark is highly distracting, though. My first thought was that he reminded me of John Noble, but the second and enduring thought was that he is the personification of the Frog Footman from Alice In Wonderland. Yikes.

I wrote two Battle Creek fanfics in the last couple of weeks. I'd planned not to, but the characterization and voices written by the most prolific fanfic author are just so "off" to me that I couldn't help myself. Also, some useful prompts came up at writerverse.

I've finished reading The Ghost Shift (drama/mystery set in modern China), and that Terry Pratchett book, and have started The Devil's Detective (bleak but interesting, and yes—a mystery set in Hell) and The Boy Who Lost Fairyland. That second one is my bedtime book, and not a great choice for that. It's fully of rich, weird detail and wry humor, and I find that kind of thing challenging to fully absorb late at night. Mainly, I'm afraid I might be missing something! The little asides that flow by include things like stone carvings featuring "stunningly suited people who have plain faces and are wearing coats with more buttons than anyone needs," or a little troll despairing of the shabby nightgown he was kidnapped in and thinking that he'd have worn something nicer if he'd known he was going to meet the Post Office.

Now, have some links on a common theme. From my f-list, a crabby and petulant poem by Pluto (can you blame it?). From coworkers to whom I showed the poem, a t-shirt-style picture, and a mini-video that is both adorable and sad at once. Awwww... All so very fitting!

All right, tomorrow's early-morning meeting means I need to get to bed, but at least I've updated first. :D

ETA: I have the Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden" stuck in my head now for unknown reasons, and somehow I feel as if someone should pay for that. :(

I loved Fringe the first time around, and this time we're rewatching with our son. SUCH an interesting show, and while the "science" often makes me cringe, I love the characters.

writerverse is a closed challenge community (which only opens up quarterly, unfortunately), but I found the prompts and variety of challenges really helped me write after Idol S8 was over and my fandom-related writing had really stalled out.

You can probably ask to be added to the next round of it. The prompts/etc. become invisible if you're not active, which is too bad, but I've definitely found it worthwhile!